RECONCILIATION

Part I

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony………that is where the Lord has promised His blessings – life that never ends.  (Psalms 133)

During a public ministry service, a mother pulling her nine year old son approached me. “Ever since his birth, I have lost all my peace. Tried sending him to my mother’s place, then admitted him twice to a hostel, but all my attempts to inculcate some discipline in him goes futile. Why did God give me such a huge punishment? I myself have a lot of health issues and many a times, I attempted to end my life regards to the shame and disgrace he gifts me every time.”

I turned my attention towards the little boy, who was all the more in his own world.  Placing my hands and blessing them, I was guided by the Lord to give her an appointment, which gave me a chance to meet the mother personally.

During the conversation, she explained that she was a devotee of Christ, so I casually enquired about her spiritual life.  The very next moment the Savior revealed to me the critical situation of the family.

Dear ones in Christ, the Holy Bible says, “Parents do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry, instead bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction.”  (Eph 6:4)

Thereafter, I took an opportunity to meet the child alone. After a casual talk, I began to ask him to address his issue. The innocence look mixed with sorrows was overpowering. Suddenly he hugged me tightly, and began to cry severely as he burst out, “I am alone, and I have nobody. I hate myself and each and everyone. Even today mother brought me forcefully to you. You treated me so gently, that I like you. Can I be with you? I promise to obey you and become like you. But I hate my home, my family, my dad. He is addicted to alcohol and brings home a bad set of friends. Once drunk, he beats up my mother and abuses her with bad foul language. She always cries. He does not allow me to do anything I wish. I hate my life. I do not want to obey dad, hence I don’t study.”

When the head of the family is too busy with no time for his wife and children, he is disregarding his God given responsibilities. How do we expect a child to be polite and obedient towards such a father?

Each heart no matter big or small; are totally broken and deep rooted with unpleasant memories, witnessed from childhood.

When parents construct a platform for their own pleasures, not recalling that there is a Heavenly Father, who watches them and to whom they are accountable for each and minute second of their life, time, skills, family, siblings and neighbor.

It is only through the parent’s mutual respect and love that their children would grow in age as well as wisdom and grace.

It is the equal duty of both the father and mother to truthfully accept self and each other; seek God, accepting Him as the mediator of the wedlock and honor Him by obeying His Law. Be sure to keep your gaze fixed on God, all the while drawing all the strength, patience and grace from Him, to carry out the daily responsibilities without fail.

When the child observes his/ her parents obeying the Great Grandpa above (God), willingly the child will be guided by God.

 Parents! Do you struggle hard to accumulate richness of this world, dreaming about the day when your child would grow up and attain higher position and make your name prominent? How many times have you secretly planned for his/her future keeping away your life partner, so that the child grows up to fulfill your dreams and desires?  

All your ambitious plans and fruits of your hard labor would deplete if you do not care to seek the will of God along with your partner before charting the future plans for His gift to you (your child).  

Your name, fame and wealth and all your goodness will be washed out by God himself, because the connectivity is broken. 

So reconcile with God today!

Likewise, the fate of those husbands and wives, who have been living together for years yet are unable to accept each other wholeheartedly, beware of the tragedy that awaits you. Each member in a family has a different story to share.

Let me utilize this opportunity to pen certain fundamental truths for the success of life!

Marriage is sacrament that calls for several and countless sacrifices in each step.  It is a life that consists not only of two different individuals who take the promise but the truthfulness and acceptance of two different families. This could be termed as the first and foremost foundation towards the success of marital life.

When a man and woman commit themselves fully and with a contrite heart during the sacrament of matrimony,  God showers certain qualities like acceptance, truthfulness, love, patience, forgiveness, sacrifice, endurance, punctuality, kindness, compassion,  upon the couple during their marital vows which is need for entering into a new mutual sacrificial life. 

So if you have failed to reconcile with God prior to receiving this Sacrament, surely there will be failures from your side, such as lack of self acceptance, non-acceptance of your partner, her /his family, child, etc.  Since sin always brings disaster in our life so the web in your heart will bring failures and brokenness in your life.

Can guilt convey joy to a person?  Or can a blameworthy person make her /his partner happy?  A pretender cannot trust others because he is already enslaved to fear, guilt, anxiety and anger. 

These attitudes will create misunderstandings and empty out the happiness of the other person.  However good natured and soft spoken a spouse may be, do not forget that if they are subjected to injustice, unfaithfulness etc; gradually the lamp of faith in God would be put off.

That is why Lord Jesus commanded, “If anyone should cause one of these little ones to loss his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large milestone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea.” 

With the aid of the above verse from the Holy Bible evaluate yourself!  Review if you are the reason for your life partner’s loss of faith in God? Is your nature of concealing your faults and not being truthful the sole cause for bringing miseries upon your family? The Lord is teaching each one of us that we are answerable for the injustice that we bring upon others.

So if you are ready to correct yourself, you will be free from God’s penalty.  Our loving God is full of mercy and slow to anger.  He showers His promises to thousands of generations but He punishes up to three to four generations.  The Holy Bible says do not delay your repentance thinking that God will not punish.  A stubborn person will be burdened with troubles.  (Sirach 3)

Are you chocked up and suffocating spiritually, mentally and physically?  The Holy Bible says, “Have you sinned, my son? Don't do it again, and pray for forgiveness for what you have already done. Avoid sin as if it were a snake. If you get too near, it will sink its teeth into your soul like a lion, and destroy you. (Sirach 21:1-2)

Today is the day and the right time for you to reconcile with God.  Do not delay any further.

 A family counseling could assist you to the right direction and release you from the evil trap.  When you accept God, you would be able to accept yourself and your partner.

“How wonderful and pleasant it is for God’s people to live together in harmony… (Psalm 133)

                                                                                             (To be continued)

With Love filled Blessings,

Your Sister in Christ

Kindly Note:

As per the message from God of KLWC, our team will be conducting an in-house Night Vigil service from 11 pm (1/11/2015) to 6 am (2/11/2015)   Your Thanksgivings and Prayer Requests are welcome.

A  FAMILY THAT SACRIFICES IN THE

 LIGHT OF GOSPEL

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the people. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.  (Psalms 33:10-11)

PART I

Once upon a time, FAMILY was considered to be the origin of hard work, education, service and prayer. However, today it has literally become a shed just for eating, drinking and quarreling. To liberate us from these pitiable conditions, to those who believe in His Son Jesus, through the Holy Bible, Our Loving Father has put before us numerous solutions

In this article, I shall describe some of the duties of a Christian husband towards his family.

The Holy Bible refers the husband as the master of the family. 

Not few are the number of husbands who reign over their wife and children using their authority as the Master of the Family.

Dear brothers, let us try to understand the truth. “Wives just as to the Lord submit to your husbands.”

This verse from the Holy Scripture does not mean or hand you the rights to treat your wife harshly.  Instead read further that says, “Just as Christ loved the Church you too must love your wives.”  (Eph 5:25)

St. Paul emphasizes on the focal point of your position --- master of the family- is to love--- that too—supreme love. For husbands, St. Paul describes various aspects of Jesus Love for the Church. Lord Jesus came into this world not to fulfill his desires but to sacrifice Himself for those whom He loved. In order to purify the Church, Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice.

A Christian husband must be ready to sacrifice his dreams and desires to safeguard his wife. Just as Lord Jesus offered Himself for the sake of His ‘Love’, a husband too must be willing to surrender himself for the sake of ‘pure love.’  The love filled exemplary life of a husband must be like that of  Lord Jesus i.e. he must surrender his wife for the glory of God and protect her by making her happy and courageous.

This may appear uninteresting in this modern carefree life. But in a Christian marital life more preference is given to unity than to a carefree life.   In their personal life, the husbands must find ways to lead a life of submission.  By surrendering himself to Lord Jesus, he can begin the first lesson of ‘submissiveness’.  Grow and nurture in your personal prayer and Bible reading.  Arise early in the morning to recite your prayers and if possible go for a Holy Mass along with your family members. If you are a person going for a job, before stepping in the office ask for the help of Mother Mary and St. Joseph.  Similarly, if you enter your office after praying one minute for your higher authorities and co-workers and all those whom you are going to meet, then you will be able to behave with everyone in patience and do your duties punctually.

If you are a husband doing the Lord’s service, then before going to the Holy Mass, gather your family members before the family altar and through the intercession of Mother Mary and St. Joseph recite reverently the Act of Consecration of Family and Prayer of Precious Blood of Jesus.  

By showing your willingness to do God’s Will you have to pray in the Lord’s presence to receive wisdom and knowledge.  Without losing patience, by fulfilling the duties towards the family, the concern and love towards the wife and children must be clearly expressed.

“…the greatest one among you must be like the youngest, and the leader must be like the servant.  Who is greater, the one who sits down to eat or the one who serves him? The one who sits down, of course.  But I am among you as One who serves.”   (Luke 22:26-27) 

This scripture verse speaks out that every Christian husband who is greatest is called to serve.

There are many husbands who think that taking care of the family comprises of providing them with money and my duty is over!. “Don’t expect anything more than this from me,” Some think that just by fulfilling the needs of the wife is sufficient to show the love for her.is a very common statement that arises from our stubbornness. The complaints that comprise about a nagging wife are also not less. A change is very essential in our attitude and mentality.

Let us turn our thoughts and take appropriate charge of her complains as our lack of sincerity. When a wife faces problems in her duties, the husband ought to help her eagerly. When a husband who has to do the major responsibility in a family falters, the wife ends up taking the burden.  

My dear brothers, when you show concern and interest towards your family in these small things God will transform your family atmosphere into a heavenly one.  The most appropriate service a husband can do with eagerness is to share in the daily chores of his wife. If a wife is to accept her husband’s status as ‘the master of the family’ he must show eagerness in the daily responsibilities of the family.  Lord Jesus exhorts that by taking up God’s service the husbands must be capable of giving spiritual directions.

So is the case of the children’s upbringing. The husband has the special duty of introducing Christian living to his children by way of fun and play.  Be sure to take some time out to come forward and help your children in their studies rather than pushing the responsibility over to your wife.

Let love rule us in everything.  God who is seated in the highest heaven cares for us.  He does everything for our good. 

The example of Joshua who totally surrendered his family in front of the whole of Israel is truly heart touching (Joshua 24:15). 

However lack of interest, a husband may show in rendering spiritual guidance, every husband has the obligation to encourage, help and direct his wife in spiritual matters.  The Lord knows about our imperfections.  However, if men come out of these bondages and begin to perform his family duties, God will provide them with the necessary blessings.

If your relationship with Jesus diminishes then a husband won’t be able to help his wife in her spiritual growth.  You must daily find some time to pray and read the Holy Bible as this helps in giving shape to a man’s emotions and thoughts.  When a husband disciplines his life it helps the spiritual upliftment of his wife and children.  Above all this it is the husband’s duty to faithfully accept the messages that the Lord gives regarding his family.

Successful Christian marriage life doesn't mean a life without any ups and downs.  Marriage and family life reaches its completion only at the wedding feast of the Lamb. 

Dear husbands, just as Lord Jesus loved His church and surrendered Himself to purify her, if you will not love your wife it will be a cruel act on your part.  The husband must be eager to show love and compassion towards his wife,  considering her to be a daughter of God you must show her respect.

“The same way you husbands must live with your wives with proper understanding that they are the weaker sex.  Treat them with respect because they also will receive together with you God’s gift of life.  Do this so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.”  (1 Peter 3 :7)

If we consider all the above things the duties of a Christian husband is beyond the grasp of an ordinary man.   You may also think that if it is so, how then we can live?

Dear ones, it is by taking up responsibilities according to your capabilities many people are among us who have learnt and grown up through failures and are living in high status.  A good husband does not rely too much on his own talents.  He obtains strength through his personal spiritual relationship with God when confronted with burdens it stands forth as a tower of refuge. 

So dear brothers, let us begin to live accepting the fact that God has given you the grace to become a good husband and believe in Him to turn everything  out to be beautiful!

It is in love of a selfless husband that ‘master of the family’ remains secure.  It is a very serious responsibility.  Just as Lord Jesus was given the authority to lift up the disciples by guiding, teaching and safeguarding them, similarly, according to God’s will a husband has been given the authority to guide the life of his wife in discipline.  The husband’s authority is the responsibility towards his wife.

The Lord wants to mould all the families on this earth like the Holy Family. 

May the help of St. Joseph surely help all the readers of ‘Living Word’.

Morning Prayer

Lord Jesus this dawn with gratitude I surrender myself, my life partner, my children, my relatives and well-wishers who are far and near.  I surrender each of my organs to be under your control.  O God! Purify me, bless me and grant me the knowledge and capability to perform my duties towards You and my family.  Purify all the talents that You have given me by Your Precious Blood.  O Jesus! Pour out your grace in all my weakness.  Amen.

(Recite this prayer two times each day and praise the Lord for 10 minutes)